FACTS: Relling worked for seven years from the age of 16 at Vestlandske Møbelfabrikk in his home district until he started at SKHS, inspired by his brother Adolf. After he passed his diploma he was employed at the drawing office of Rastad & Relling a/s in Oslo before opening his own practice at Møre in 1950. For the first few years, Relling worked as an interior architect, fitting out, among others, schools, hotels and churches. His major works include the restoration of Skodje Church in collaboration with the Keeper of the National Antiquities, and internal work at Ålesund Library and the Hotel Noreg in the same town. Since 1960, Relling dedicated himself entirely to furniture design, developing his skills through collaboration with the industry to become Norway’s most internationally famous and recognized furniture designer, as well as one of the greatest contributors to the concept Scandinavian Design.

SIESTA: Relling attained an international reputation with his SIESTA chair. The series represented new thinking in terms of both construction and form. Most distinctive is the simple, high-backed first edition in light beech, upholstered in sailcloth or leather. Since that time, Relling worked consistently with chairs made from laminated beech, above all, easy chairs. In some of his works he employed the equivalent qualities of steel. From Relling’s range of chairs, special mention should be made of: Rest, Flex, Lido, Tema, Cox and Manta. All are original in terms of construction and have a compact form of expression of sculptural quality. The light, resilient and elegant chairs unite technical, functional and aesthetic qualities of an exceptional standard.